My grandson was visiting. He was not his normal happy self. He was very sad and upset about something. He could not put it into words. We were just about to sit down for lunch. He asked, “Papa can I sit in your chair?” I always sit at the head of the table. I moved and gave him my chair and spot at the table. Something about it seemed to comfort him and reassure him. The tears passed. Funny thing, he has never asked again.

Jesus offers a place of comfort and rest. His invitation…

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”   Matthew 11: 28-30

Being close to Christ is the place of comfort and reassurance!

by Mike Woodard
used by permission

FURTHER READING

• He Wonderfully Comforts
• The God Who Comforts
• Hiding Place

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The post Being Close to Christ appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)

Are you heading into this week just flat out exhausted? Is there some great weight upon you that you just can’t seem to lift? Maybe there is something in your life that you have been dealing with for some time, and there seems to be no end in sight. Have no fear, for our God does not grow weary.

He knows exactly what you’re going through. Even though it may not be time to release you from this trial, He will give you strength to endure. If we try to handle these life moments on our own we grow weary and collapse under the pressure. Scripture says even the youth will faint, and young men fall exhausted. So what do we do?

We wait upon the Lord. We seek His face every moment of every day and He will lift us up. I know how hard this is to do in our fast food, 4G society. It is in our nature to look for instant relief. We seek to find the instant solution and why not? No one wants to suffer.

God will renew your strength until it is time for this trial to be over. In Him you will not fall, you will not grow weary. Will you still feel the pain of your journey? Yes. Will it still seem like the world is crashing in on you, it might, but in the arms of Jesus you will be held safe and strong until this storm passes.

Let us praise God! Let us sing songs glorifying His wonderful name! Even in your storm, let us sing Hallelujah, for He is with you. He is supporting you, and you know that your prayers will be answered in His time. The storm will not last forever, but the Love God has for you will last for all eternity. So when this storm does pass, His love will be right there showering down on you, blessings in abundance!

Thank You Jesus! Hallelujah! We Love you Lord! Thank You Jesus! Praise God! Amen

Question: Are you in the middle of a trial, or a storm of life that seems to have no end in sight? Is there something holding you back from letting Jesus be your life raft?

by Rev. Daniel Forster
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

Tiredness

What is Your Strength

Fear, Faith and Migraines

The post Let Us Not Grow Tired appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

My life, (particularly over the Christmas season), often feels scattered, frenzied, and harried.

If that sounds like your life too, take a moment to ponder these words of Jesus, found in Matthew’s gospel.

Jesus invites us to rest.

His invitation draws us. We are so tired. Yet at the same time, we resist this rest. There is so much to do. Our society says rest comes simply with inactivity. So, we put up our feet and watch a movie. We take a luxury vacation to escape the real world for a while. Or, when overwhelmed, we do nothing and allow external forces to push us from one situation to the next. Yet none of these things brings us real rest.

The rest Jesus offers requires action. He instructs us:

• Take My yoke upon you.
• Learn from Me.

Jesus tells us to bind ourselves to Him. Like the ancient wooden frame that joined two oxen, Jesus asks us to make His way the framework for our lives. Following God’s commands provides the direction we need and frees us from the bondage of sin. Instead of frantically seeking approval from people, we rest in the knowledge that God loves and accepts us. Worry and fear fade away as we trust God to provide and release control to Him.

Jesus also calls us to learn from Him.

His gentle care for us teaches us patience and mercy. His humility and selflessness show us how to unselfishly serve others. Real rest comes when we put our lives in God’s hands and learn from Jesus.

God, I’m floundering. Life is pulling me in too many directions. I want to follow your ways and find real rest. Amen.

By Suzanne Benner
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•   God Is…

•  More than a Father

•  Salvation Explained

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The post Invited to Rest appeared first on Thoughts About God.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Thought

Where do you go when you are exhausted and in need of rest? No bed, no vacation, no retreat can give us a truly refreshing rest if that rest doesn’t involve coming to Jesus. So what are you waiting for? Come to Jesus and enjoy the blessings of his presence, his love, his forgiveness, his grace, and his rest!

Prayer

Almighty God, your Son Jesus is my strength and hope. I look forward to the day when he returns in triumph for me and all of your children. But Father, I want to know him better and to live for him with an undivided heart. I want to find rest in his presence, meaning in his service, and significance in his acceptance. Please bless me as I journey toward a deeper relationship with you and as I gain a more profound knowledge of your Son. In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
used by permission

You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on https://www.verseoftheday.com

Further Reading

•  Life Can Bring Joy out of Sorrow by Norma Becker
•  Fully Surrender to the Lord
•  Salvation Explained

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The post Come to Me appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Thought

This beatitude comes from Jesus’ brother. He had experienced it and not just taught it! James knew it was worth “hanging in” and “hanging on” when his faith was under attack. He affirmed that God loves us and that he has made incredible promises about what lies ahead for us. He knew that eventually our period of testing would be transformed into a time of great blessing. James wants us to know that God longs to bless us with life! After all, that’s why he sent Jesus. (cf. John 10:10)

Prayer

Dear LORD and Father, thank you for all those times that you strengthened me when I was under attack and sustained me when I was weary and ready to quit. Write “perseverance” deep within my soul and give me a spirit of tenacity so that I might serve you no matter what the outward circumstances of my life may be. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
Used by Permission
You can also follow Phil’s daily devotionals on https://www.verseoftheday.com

Further Reading

•  Life Can Bring Joy out of Sorrow by Norma Becker
•  God Listens to Us
•  Salvation Explained

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Pinterest

The post Perseveres Under Trial appeared first on Thoughts About God.